busy signal

Definition

An auditory tone heard when calling a telephone number that was already in use, indicating the line was occupied and the call could not be connected. The steady buzzing sound was a ubiquitous feature of pre-digital phone systems.

Example Usage

Back in the day, you'd hear a busy signal and have to wait ten minutes before trying to call your friend again.

Origin

A feature of analog telephone systems developed in the early 20th century to alert callers that a line was unavailable.

Fun Fact

The busy signal is now largely obsolete due to call-waiting technology and modern cellular networks, making it a symbol of pre-internet communication.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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